RPC II, 1315A

 

Image of specimen #5

 

Coin type
Volume II
Number 1315A
Province Asia
Subprovince Conventus of Sardis
Region Lydia
City Sardis
Reign Titus
Person (obv.) Titus (Augustus)
Magistrate Titus Flavius Isigonos (strategos)
Alliance with Smyrna
Obverse inscription ΤΙΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΚΡΑΤΟΡΟϹ
Obverse design laureate and cuirassed bust of Titus, right
Reverse inscription ΕΠΙ Τ ΦΛ ΕΙϹΙΓΟΝΟΥ ϹΑΡΔΙΑΝΩΝ, ϹΤΡΑ
Reverse design Demos of Sardis standing, right, with Demos of Smyrna (?) standing, left; (between, altar)
Metal copper-based alloy
Average diameter 23 mm
Axis 6
Specimens 6 (2 in the core collections)
Note The obverse legend can now be read as Τίτoυ Αυτoκράτoρoς; the genitive form is unusual and contrasts oddly with the dative, which is used on the coins of Eisigonos for Vespasian. The reverse design is much the same as on the coins for Domitian as sole emperor (RPC II, 1317), although the two demoi are not clasping hands. The similarity of design suggests the identification of the other demos as that of Smyrna, even though they are not named as on RPC II, 1317. This is only the second ‘alliance’ coinage from the reign of Vespasian (RPC II, pp. 6-7, 34). Coin 1315A/5 allows full reading of the rev. legend. The possibility that this series struck in the name of Titus is an ‘alliance’ coinage with Smyrna, as suggested in RPC CS, is discussed by P.-O. Hochard, 'Sur la monnaie 2011/226 du Cabinet des médailles: question d’attribution et d’identification d’une émission provinciale de Titus', BSFN 70, 1, Jan. 2015, pp. 2-9.
Correction Corrected coin-type (post publication)
Addition Additional coin-type (post publication)

Specimens of this coin type

Number Number Museum Bibliography
1 1     L: 2001,0501.2
2 2     P: 2011/226
3 3     A. Tricarico coll. = Hirsch 287, 7 Feb. 2013, lot 2231
4 4     CGT coll.
5 5     ✸ J. Clark coll. (ex Rauch 101, 19 Apr. 2016, lot 1420)
6 6     A. Tricarico coll. (ex Savoca 95th Silver, 14 Feb. 2021, lot 341)